Redevelopment begins at Portland's Public Market

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Interior demolition is under way at Portland's former Public Market building that's being converted into office space for a fast-growing payments services company.

Stephen Goodrich, chief executive of PowerPay, bought the property in October as his company's future home. He is briefing media and guests Thursday on renovation plans.

The nonprofit Libra Foundation built the Public Market in 1998 to promote economic development, but the market closed eight years later.

Goodrich said Wednesday he plans to maintain some public access to the building by incorporating a new cafe that will commemorate the vision of Elizabeth Noyce, the public market's original benefactor.

PowerPay plans to grow its work force to as many as 200 in the next five years.